STIGQter STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Appliance Photon OS 4.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The Photon operating system must enable hardlink access control protection in the kernel.

DISA Rule

SV-258903r991589_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258903

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227

Rule Version

PHTN-40-000244

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Navigate to and open:

/etc/sysctl.d/zz-stig-hardening.conf

Add or update the following line:

fs.protected_hardlinks = 1

At the command line, run the following command to load the new configuration:

# /sbin/sysctl --load /etc/sysctl.d/zz-stig-hardening.conf

Note: If the file zz-stig-hardening.conf does not exist, it must be created.

Check Contents

At the command line, run the following command to verify hardlink protection is enabled:

# /sbin/sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks

Example result:

fs.protected_hardlinks = 1

If the "fs.protected_hardlinks" kernel parameter is not set to "1", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258903

Documentable

False

Rule Version

PHTN-40-000244

Severity Override Guidance

At the command line, run the following command to verify hardlink protection is enabled:

# /sbin/sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks

Example result:

fs.protected_hardlinks = 1

If the "fs.protected_hardlinks" kernel parameter is not set to "1", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5569